Which Pickup for company car?
Discussion
Looking for a little advice from those more in the know on these matters than I am!
Currently have a Toyota Hilux 3.0 Invincible Auto as a company car, but a new job is on offer that also comes with a company car. I should also manage to negotiate a fuel card with this, however the only stipulation is that it must be a diesel. The main driver for choosing a pickup over a ‘normal’ car is the tax benefit for me covering a company car and associated fuel card when both are available for personal use.
Now, it will spend 95% of its time on road, and the remainder towing a trailer around 2500-3000kgs. I like the Hilux but it’s a touch twitchy in the wet, and I as yet haven’t used it for towing so I’m unsure how it will perform with that amount of weight dragging along behind. Also, the Hilux can only tow 2800kgs max, and something inside my head tells me I’d prefer to have a little bit of spare capacity in the towing department.
So far having had a look around, I’ve narrowed the options down to
Ford Ranger 3.2TDCI Auto
Nissan Navara 3.0 TDI Outlaw
VW Amarok Trendline 2.0 TDI Bi-Turbo
Toyota Hilux 3.0 Invincible
I like the Hilux as I’ve said, only downsides are the seat position is a little high and there isn’t enough adjustment in the seat or the steering wheel to get truly comfortable for distance driving. I’m likely to be doing 40-50k a year and can live with the slightly bouncy ride in the long term.
The only stipulation I have is that it must be an Auto. I’m not going to have the time to be able to test drive all of the above (if any of them), so some owner experiences would be much appreciated
Currently have a Toyota Hilux 3.0 Invincible Auto as a company car, but a new job is on offer that also comes with a company car. I should also manage to negotiate a fuel card with this, however the only stipulation is that it must be a diesel. The main driver for choosing a pickup over a ‘normal’ car is the tax benefit for me covering a company car and associated fuel card when both are available for personal use.
Now, it will spend 95% of its time on road, and the remainder towing a trailer around 2500-3000kgs. I like the Hilux but it’s a touch twitchy in the wet, and I as yet haven’t used it for towing so I’m unsure how it will perform with that amount of weight dragging along behind. Also, the Hilux can only tow 2800kgs max, and something inside my head tells me I’d prefer to have a little bit of spare capacity in the towing department.
So far having had a look around, I’ve narrowed the options down to
Ford Ranger 3.2TDCI Auto
Nissan Navara 3.0 TDI Outlaw
VW Amarok Trendline 2.0 TDI Bi-Turbo
Toyota Hilux 3.0 Invincible
I like the Hilux as I’ve said, only downsides are the seat position is a little high and there isn’t enough adjustment in the seat or the steering wheel to get truly comfortable for distance driving. I’m likely to be doing 40-50k a year and can live with the slightly bouncy ride in the long term.
The only stipulation I have is that it must be an Auto. I’m not going to have the time to be able to test drive all of the above (if any of them), so some owner experiences would be much appreciated
I have a hilux it tows very well and I've been well over the rated capacity!!!
Only gripe is its manual as auto extracabs aren't available in the UK
I looked at the Isuzu not bad and great legal tow rating , friend had Nissan nothing but trouble!! Ranger now has the s
tty transit engine so avoided that
VW looks and drives like a tartmobile horrid IMHO ,settled for the Toyota for build quality and previous good experience with them ,apparently the all new
Hilux is not far away so maybe worth looking out for that..
Only gripe is its manual as auto extracabs aren't available in the UK
I looked at the Isuzu not bad and great legal tow rating , friend had Nissan nothing but trouble!! Ranger now has the s
tty transit engine so avoided thatVW looks and drives like a tartmobile horrid IMHO ,settled for the Toyota for build quality and previous good experience with them ,apparently the all new
Hilux is not far away so maybe worth looking out for that..
xRIEx said:
Rick Cutler said:
Friend of mine in same situation ended up with the ranger but manual as he tows regularly. Drives more like a car then the others.
I was under the impression an auto suited towing better, is that not the case?Can be a little tedious as the thing hunts between gears and revs like a b
d!!
Thanks for the replies, one of my gripes about the Hilux is that it lacks a little in the oomph department, joining a fast moving dual carriage way can take a far bit of skill to try and squeeze in amongst the trucks on the inside lane!
I was swaying towards the Navara due to the big increase in power but had been put off a bit by the apparent lack of reliability, but on further reading it appears that the models from 2012 are much improved? I like the look of the Ranger but the engine does puts me off, on paper a 3.2 5cyl has a bit of potential but every time I hear a Transit go past I just know that's how it would sound!
I do like my Hilux, and the feeling that it will go on forever is a surprising feel good factor every time is use it, was more curiosity about was there anything better out there that might be a big enough step forward to warrant a change
I was swaying towards the Navara due to the big increase in power but had been put off a bit by the apparent lack of reliability, but on further reading it appears that the models from 2012 are much improved? I like the look of the Ranger but the engine does puts me off, on paper a 3.2 5cyl has a bit of potential but every time I hear a Transit go past I just know that's how it would sound!
I do like my Hilux, and the feeling that it will go on forever is a surprising feel good factor every time is use it, was more curiosity about was there anything better out there that might be a big enough step forward to warrant a change
2 years ago I drove every Pickup truck and after discounting all the others including the Hilux (difficult to say anything good about that, outdated in almost every way, old interior, noisy, slow, poor refinement and handling) I narrowed it down to two:
Ranger - nice 5 pot motor, quite nice inside, drove ok, not as punchy as I thought it'd be but it was a low miles demo so maybe needed loosening up.
Amarok - a clear winner on road, surprisingly quick, handles like a car, rides well (tyre pressure sensitive) classy interior and (subjectively) the best looking. I bought one and haven't regretted it one bit.
Bad points? - the headlights are pants (fixed on later models) the motor's noisy at cold idle (quieter on later models) the gearchange is truculent, especially in very cold weather (again fixed post 2011) the suspension was squeaky (sorted by the dealer) no factory bluetooth (I think it's standard now) and they look silly on small wheels because the arches are so huge so go for 19's if you can.
The later (post 2011) models got 10% more power and 5% more torque (only the auto's got the extra torque) and lower NVH levels.
Off roaders complain of the manual being too high geared, a legacy of only having a 2litre motor and the blowers not dong their job until 1200rpm, probably not a concern for you.
They all use a little oil so worth keeping an eye on that, mine (manual) sits at a quiet 1700rpm at the legal limit and has returned 31mpg over 25000 miles. It's sensitive to which brand of diesel I use (quieter, punchier, revs higher(!?) and has better economy) so worth trying a few to find the best.
It'll pull hard in 4th from 35mph all the way to 100 and I've seen an indicated 115 in 5th, passengers are often surprised at the punch even though mine's the pre-power increase model.
Brilliant truck, I wouldn't consider anything else, go try one and tell us what you think
Ranger - nice 5 pot motor, quite nice inside, drove ok, not as punchy as I thought it'd be but it was a low miles demo so maybe needed loosening up.
Amarok - a clear winner on road, surprisingly quick, handles like a car, rides well (tyre pressure sensitive) classy interior and (subjectively) the best looking. I bought one and haven't regretted it one bit.
Bad points? - the headlights are pants (fixed on later models) the motor's noisy at cold idle (quieter on later models) the gearchange is truculent, especially in very cold weather (again fixed post 2011) the suspension was squeaky (sorted by the dealer) no factory bluetooth (I think it's standard now) and they look silly on small wheels because the arches are so huge so go for 19's if you can.
The later (post 2011) models got 10% more power and 5% more torque (only the auto's got the extra torque) and lower NVH levels.
Off roaders complain of the manual being too high geared, a legacy of only having a 2litre motor and the blowers not dong their job until 1200rpm, probably not a concern for you.
They all use a little oil so worth keeping an eye on that, mine (manual) sits at a quiet 1700rpm at the legal limit and has returned 31mpg over 25000 miles. It's sensitive to which brand of diesel I use (quieter, punchier, revs higher(!?) and has better economy) so worth trying a few to find the best.
It'll pull hard in 4th from 35mph all the way to 100 and I've seen an indicated 115 in 5th, passengers are often surprised at the punch even though mine's the pre-power increase model.
Brilliant truck, I wouldn't consider anything else, go try one and tell us what you think
D_T_W said:
I like the look of the Ranger but the engine does puts me off, on paper a 3.2 5cyl has a bit of potential but every time I hear a Transit go past I just know that's how it would sound!
With the correct exhaust it can sound pretty goodhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6NPrVUQqII
Have you thought about the Izuzu D-max. Did my trailer test in one earlier this year and it pulled well, lots of low down grunt.
Went out with an L200 (07 plate) since complete with 1800kgs or so on the back and I was rather impressed with it. Have driven an auto L200 unladen (11 plate) and that is the most dimwitted 'box I have ever had the misfortune to use!
Went out with an L200 (07 plate) since complete with 1800kgs or so on the back and I was rather impressed with it. Have driven an auto L200 unladen (11 plate) and that is the most dimwitted 'box I have ever had the misfortune to use!
powerstroke said:
Yes but only if you have enough power then its the dogs! Otherwise
Can be a little tedious as the thing hunts between gears and revs like a bd
!!
He tows very heavy trailers and off roads with the trailer from time to tome. Therefore he wants to choose the gears.Can be a little tedious as the thing hunts between gears and revs like a b
d!!
There is a burnt orange ranger sat at Bristol ford same as his on the forecourt, Been there for weeks. Dubious When my mate said he was getting an orange pickup but it really works on that car.
Edited by Rick Cutler on Tuesday 29th July 08:43
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